I know its a little early but ....

[BBK]

.... how the hell are Stoke City going to cope in the Premier League? Bear in mind that Derby, who are now the "record holders" as officially the worst team in Premier League history, scored 5 more points and had a better goal difference in finishing third in the Championship last season. I reckon we should have a sweepstake, $50DF to enter

[LFC Muppet]

.... how the hell are Stoke City going to cope in the Premier League? Bear in mind that Derby, who are now the "record holders" as officially the worst team in Premier League history, scored 5 more points and had a better goal difference in finishing third in the Championship last season. I reckon we should have a sweepstake, $50DF to enter

Its not always about Star players. Stoke have a up and coming manager, who seems to be doing wonders.

Reading have done well for a few seasons (no household names when they came into the premiership).


Football is a funny game, so you never know Stoke might finish above Newcastle

[pizza-man]

every1 starts lower down and make there way up
so lets see wat new season brings
and lookin forward to see boyyakka

[ant3b]

lol lfc.. stoke just doesn't seem like a team which will stay up

[jimbo77]

easy 6points next season..... sorry Stoke but feel it will b a fookin hard season for ya... but congrats on promotion.

[willp2003]

it will be great experience for them, but you have to think they'll struggle to stay up, but best of luck to them.

[LFC Muppet]

Will they hold onto their manager for long?

[eggon]

Its a bit of a poisened chalice joining the premiership - every manager wants to be in the prem and manage, but deep down they must know they are only a few bad results from a sacking. Take Billy Davies for example - he transformed Derby, took them into the prem and then gets the sack a few months into the season!
I think the same will happen to Pulis at Stoke.....

[BBK]

Its not always about Star players. Stoke have a up and coming manager, who seems to be doing wonders.

Reading have done well for a few seasons (no household names when they came into the premiership).

Up and coming? At 50 years old? Can't say I agree with that - more journeyman who finally got a managers position after years being assistant, built a dour, dull, long ball team and got lucky that the Championship was incredibly tight! Remember, Stoke were actually only 17 points away from relegation - compare this to the 51 point gap between 2nd and relegation in the Premiership, 44 in Div 1, and 46 in Div 2 - well, it just shows how damn tight the Championship was, the margin between success and failure the smallest ever possibly.

Reading, when promoted, came up with a manager who had years of experience managing in the top flight, and a chairman with cash and desire. From what I read today Stoke are going to get a transfer budget of £15 million - which is absolutely nothing. But then, financially, probably the CORRECT decision - accept that this season may be lost, so dont over-expend, reap the financial rewards, and then build a more solid team that can push the next season. And don't sack the manager!

[SiE]

I remember when Bolton first came up and everybody said the same aswell (wasnt it andy gray that said if Bolton dont go down then he would shave all his hair off and had to).

[BBK]

I remember when Bolton first came up and everybody said the same aswell (wasnt it andy gray that said if Bolton dont go down then he would shave all his hair off and had to).

Wasnt it Rodney Marsh on Sky Sports? Good on him for going through with it.

[SiE]

Wasnt it Rodney Marsh on Sky Sports? Good on him for going through with it.

I think your right. They ended up being pretty successful for quite a few seasons.